Bag with chair function

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a bag with a chair function. The bag of the present invention comprises a storing portion  10  for storing articles therein; a back portion  20  with a pad  21  inserted therein which is integrally formed with the storing portion  10  at one side of the storing portion; a seat portion  30  with a pad  31  inserted therein which is configured to correspond to the shape of the back portion  20  and a lower end of which is connected to a lower end of the back portion  20  in a pivotable manner; and a fastener  40  which is attached along the perimeters of the back portion  20  and the seat portion  30  and can be engaged and released to maintain the back portion  20  and the seat portion  30  in a position facing with each other or to allow the seat portion to be folded from the back portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a bag, and more particularly, to a bag with a chair function.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] In general, a bag is used for easily carrying articles which are securely stored in its storing space. The bag comprises a storing space for storing articles therein, and a handle or shoulder belt for facilitating the carriage of the bag. Further, bags are categorized into various kinds such as student bags, sports bags, and traveling bags in accordance with their usage thereof. However, conventional bags simply perform the function of accommodating and carrying articles, and they cannot provide a user with an additional function such as a function of a chair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a bag which has not only a function of storing and carrying articles but also a function of a chair capable of being effectively and comfortably utilized when the user wishes to take a rest.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the object, a bag with a chair function comprises a storing portion for accommodating articles therein; a back portion integrally formed with the storing portion at one side of the storing portion; a seat portion which is configured to the shape of the back portion and a lower end of which is connected to a lower end of the back portion in a pivotable manner; and a fastening means which is constructed along the perimeters of the back portion and the seat portion and can be engaged and released to maintain the back portion and the seat portion in a position facing with each other or to allow the seat portion to be unfolded from the back portion.

[0007] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a bag with a chair function comprises a storing portion for accommodating articles therein; a back portion integrally formed with the storing portion at one side of the storing portion; a seat portion which is configured to have a width corresponding to that of the back portion and is sized to extend upwardly from a lower end of the back portion by a predetermined length, and a lower end of which is connected to the lower end of the back portion in a pivotable manner; and fastening means attached along both lateral sides of the back portion and the seat portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The above object and feature of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments given in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag with a chair function according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0010]FIG. 2a is a view showing the configurations of a pad for a back portion and a pad for a seat portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2b is a view showing a dimensional relationship between the pads for the back portion and the seat portion in FIG. 2a when a single pad is cut into the two pads;

[0012]FIG. 2c is a view showing the arrangement of the pads for the back portion and the seat portion when the former is placed onto and stood up from the latter;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a view showing a state where the back portion and the seat portion of the bag of FIG. 1 are spread out from each other;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a bag with a chair function according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

[0015]FIG. 5 is a view showing a state where a back portion and a seat portion of the bag of FIG. 4 are unfolded from each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a bag with a chair function according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bag with the chair function according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the bag with the chair function according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a storing portion 10, a back portion 20, a seat portion 30, and a fastener 40. Further, shoulder belts 50 are attached to the seat portion 30.

[0019] The storing portion 10 defines a storing space for accommodating articles therein. The storing portion is made of fabric or other various materials, and is manufactured through conventional cutting and sewing processes which are used to manufacture an ordinary bag.

[0020] The back portion 20 is integrally formed with and at one side of the storing portion 10. The back portion 20 is sewn up with a pad (not shown) inserted thereinto. The pad is made of a cushion material having predetermined durability, for example, sponge, rubber, synthetic resin, etc. Although it has not been illustrated, a structure, which allows the inserted pad to be taken out when washing the bag and to be taken in again when using the bag, may be optionally formed in the back portion 20.

[0021] The seat portion 30 performs the chair function together with the back portion 20. The seat portion 30 is opposed to the back portion 20, and the seat portion has a space corresponding to that of the back portion. A lower end of the seat portion 30 is connected with a lower end of the back portion 20 by means of a sewing. Further, the lower end of the seat portion 30 is constructed to be pivotable on the lower end of the back portion 20 when the back portion 20 and the seat portion 30 are unfolded from each other such that the bag performs the chair function (refer to FIG. 2a). In the same manner as the back portion 20, the seat portion 30 is sewn up with a pad (not shown) inserted thereinto. The pad is also made of a cushion material having predetermined durability, for example, sponge, rubber, synthetic resin, etc. Although it has not been illustrated, a structure, which allows the inserted pad to be taken out when washing the bag and to be taken in again when using the bag, may be optionally formed in the seat portion 30.

[0022] A zipper type of slide fastener 40 is attached along the facing perimeters of the back portion 20 and the seat portion 30. With such structure of such a fastener 40, when a user opens or releases the fastener 40 in order to use his/her bag as a chair, the seat portion 30 can be moved apart from the back portion 20 to a unfolded position such that the bag takes the shape of a chair. Further, the user can use the bag in its original storage and carrying function by folding the seat portion 30 onto the back portion 20 to be overlapped with each other and then closing the fastener 40. The fastener 40 is not limited to the slide fastener, and a snap button or Velcro fastener may be used as the fastener 40.

[0023] A pair of shoulder belts 50 are attached to a rear face of the seat portion 30. As shown in the figure, one end of the shoulder belts 50 are respectively fixed to an upper portion of the rear face of the seat portion 30, whereas a hook 52 is formed at the other side end of each shoulder belt such that the hook 52 can be detachably connected to a ring 53 formed at two locations on a lower portion of the rear face of the seat portion 30. Each of the shoulder belts 50 includes a length-adjusting member 54 at an intermediate portion thereof such that its length can be adjusted.

[0024]FIG. 2a shows the configurations of the pads inserted into the back portion 20 and the seat portion 30, FIG. 2b shows the dimensional relationship between the pads of the back portion 20 and the seat portion 30 when the single pad is cut into the two pads, and FIG. 2c shows the arrangement of the two pads when the pad of the back portion 20 is placed onto and stood up from the pad of the seat portion 30.

[0025] More specifically, FIG. 2a shows the configurations of the pad 21 for the back portion 20 and the pad 31 for the seat portion 30. The pads 21, 31 may be made of materials, such as sponge, fiber and rubber, which have cushioning characteristics enough to make the user feel comfortable when the user sits thereon and of which the elastic strength can be sufficiently maintained for a long time.

[0026] As shown in the figure, the pad 21 of the back portion 20 has a lower end C₁ which is beveled at an angle of 45 degrees. The pad 31 of the seat portion 30 has a lower end C₂ which is beveled at an angle of 45 degrees. The reason that the respective lower ends C₁, C₂ of the pads 21, 31 are formed to be beveled at an angle of 45 degrees is that the angle between the back portion 20 and the seat portion 30 can be kept exactly at an angle of 90 degrees so as to take the shape of the chair when they are unfolded from each other, as shown in FIG. 2c. This is to solve an inconvenience that the user should unfold the back portion 20 from the seat portion 30 again before sitting since the back portion 20 inclines toward the seat portion 30.

[0027]FIG. 2b shows a cutting pattern where a single pad P of thickness D is cut into two subpads 21, 31. As shown in the figure, the single pad P is cut obliquely from its lower end to its upper end. More specifically, the single pad starts to be cut from the center of its lower end such that the pads 21, 31 to be obtained by cutting have the same thickness d₁ and d₂ at their lower ends. Then, the single pad P is cut such that the thickness d₁ of the pad 21 is gradually decreased toward an upper end of the pad 21 to have a thickness of d₁′ at the upper end. Further, the respective lower ends of the pads 21, 31 are chamfered at an angle of 45 degrees such that the angle between the pads 21, 31 is kept at an angle of 90 degrees when they are unfolded from each other as described above. Thus, the pads 21, 31 are constructed such that the thickness of the lower end of the pad 21 is identical to that of the pad 31 while the thickness d₁′ of the upper end of the pad 21 is different from the thickness d₂′ of the upper end of the pad 31. This is to allow the user to feel comfortable when the user sits on the pad 31 of which upper end has relatively larger thickness d₂′, and to reinforce the durability of the pad 31 onto which almost all the weight of the user is loaded. Alternatively, the thickness of the pads need not necessarily differ from each other if it is ensured that the user can feel comfortable even though the upper ends of the pads 21, 31 are formed to have the identical thickness when cutting the single pad into the two pads 21, 31.

[0028]FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of the back portion 20 and the seat portion 30, which have been sewn up in a state where the pads 21, 31 of FIG. 2a are inserted into the portions, respectively, where they are unfolded from each other after the fastener 40 in the bag structure of FIG. 1 has been opened or released. As shown in the figure, when the fastener 40 is opened, the back portion 20 and the seat portion 30 are unfolded from each other to form an angle of 90 degrees between them. Thus, the bag can take the shape of a chair.

[0029] A pair of support bands 60 are attached to two locations on an upper portion of the back portion 20. One end of the support band 60 is fixedly attached to the back portion 20, whereas a ring-shaped hook 61 is connected to the other end of the support band such that the hook 61 can engage with the ring 62 formed at two locations on the upper portion of the seat portion 30. With the support bands 60 constructed as such, supporting function between the back and seat portions 20, 30 can be enhanced if the hooks 61 of the bands 60 are engaged with the respective rings 62 when the user sits on the seat portion 30. Thus, the bag can effectively perform the function of a chair. It is apparent that the support band 60 may not be used in the bag. The support bands 60 may be omitted if the load exerted on the lower ends of the back and seat portions 20, 30 when the user sits on the seat portion 30 can be sufficiently sustained by means of the structure of the back and seat portions.

[0030]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a bag with the chair function according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the bag comprises a storing portion 100, a back portion 200, a seat portion 300, and a pair of fasteners 400. Further, a pair of shoulder belts 500 are attached as shown in the figure.

[0031] More specifically, the back portion 200 is integrally formed with the storing portion 100 at its one side.

[0032] The seat portion 300 is constructed such that the width of the seat portion corresponds to that of the back portion 200. Further, the seat portion 300 is sized to extend upwardly from a lower end of the back portion 200 by a predetermined length, and its lower end is pivotable on the lower end of the back portion 200.

[0033] The pads constructed as described with reference to FIG. 2a are inserted into the back portion 200 and the seat portion 300, respectively. The sizes of the two pads according to the first embodiment of the present invention are identical to each other, whereas the pads according to the second embodiment of the present invention may be designed to have different sizes. That is, since the size of the seat portion 300 according to the second embodiment of the present invention corresponds to about two thirds of the size of the back portion 200, the pads are cut in accordance with the respective sizes thereof so that the back portion 200 and the seat portion 300 are sewn up with the pads being inserted into the two portions, respectively. However, the lower ends of the pads for the back portion 200 and the seat portion 300 according to the second embodiment of the present invention should be chamfered at an angle of 45 degrees such that the angle between the two portions 200, 300 can maintain 90 degrees when they are unfolded from each other.

[0034] A pair of fasteners 400 are attached to and two lateral sides of the back portion 200 and the seat portion 300. Further, a pair of rings 510 are formed at two locations on an upper portion of the rear face of the back portion 200, and another pair of rings 530 are formed at lower lateral sides of the back portion 200. Thus, a pair of shoulder belts 500 with hooks 520 formed at both ends thereof can be engage with the rings 510, 530, respectively.

[0035]FIG. 5 shows a state where the back portion 200 and the seat portion 300 are unfolded from each other after the fasteners 400 of the bag according to the second embodiment of the present invention have been opened. As shown in the figure, when the fastener 400 formed along both lateral sides of the back portion 200 and the seat portion 300 is opened, the seat portion 300 which has been in a position facing the back portion 200 is unfolded from the back portion to form an angle of 90 degrees therebetween. Thus, the bag can take the shape of a chair. As shown in the figure, a pair of support bands 600 are attached at two predetermined locations of the back portion where the upper end of the seat portion 300 adjoins when the back portion 200 and the seat portion 300 are folded with each other. Ring-shaped hooks 620 are attached to free ends of the support bands 600 such that they respectively engage with the rings 640 attached to both lateral sides of the upper end of the seat portion 300. With the support bands 600 constructed as such, supporting relationship between the back and seat portions 200, 300 can be enhanced by engaging the hooks 620 of the bands 600 with the respective rings 640 when the user sits on the seat portion 300. Thus, the bag can effectively perform the function of a chair.

[0036] The major structural differences between the first and second embodiments of the present invention are as follows. That is, the sizes of the back portion 20 and the seat portion 30 according to the first embodiment are identical to each other, whereas the vertical length of the seat portion 300 according to the second embodiment is sized to be about two thirds of the vertical length of the back portion 200 and the remaining one third region belongs to the back portion 200, as shown in FIG. 4. Further, in view of the fastener structure, the fastener 40 according to the first embodiment is formed all the perimeters of the back portion 20 and seat portion 30, whereas the fasteners 400 according to the second embodiment are formed along two common lateral sides of the back portion 200 and the seat portion 300. Furthermore, one ends of the shoulder belts 50 according to the first embodiment are fixedly attached to the upper portion on the rear face of the seat portion 30, whereas the shoulder belts 500 according to the second embodiment can be detached from the back portion 200 and the seat portion 300.

[0037] Therefore, since the bag of the present invention has the chair function in addition to the function of and ordinary bag, it can be efficiently and comfortably used when the user wants to take a rest.

[0038] Further, since the bag according to the present invention is constructed such that the storing portion and the portions for performing the chair function are separated from each other, it can be readily utilized as a chair without taking out the articles accommodated within the storing portion of the bag.

[0039] In addition, since the angle between the back portion and seat portion of the bag is kept at an angle of 90 degrees when they are unfolded from each other, the user can sit thereon without any additional actions. Moreover, the sustaining relationship between the back portion and the seat portion needed when the user sits on the seat portion can be ensured by the support bands for connecting the two portions with each other.

[0040] Furthermore, since the seat portion is designed to have a thickness difference between the upper and lower ends thereof, the comfortability the user sitting thereon can be further improved.

[0041] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be understood by the skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A bag with a chair function, comprising: a storing portion for accommodating articles therein; a back portion integrally formed with the storing portion at one side of the storing portion; a seat portion which is configured to the shape of the back portion and a lower end of which is connected to a lower end of the back portion in a pivotable manner; and a fastening means which is constructed along the perimeters of the back portion and the seat portion and can be engaged and released to maintain the back portion and the seat portion in a position facing with each other or to allow the seat portion to be unfolded from the back portion.
 2. The bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening means is selected from a group consisting of a Velcro fastener, a slide fastener and a snap button.
 3. The bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the back portion and the seat portion include a first and a second pads inserted thereinto, respectively.
 4. The bag as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first and second pads are formed of an elastic material selected from a group consisting of sponge, fiber, rubber and a composite thereof.
 5. The bag as claimed in claim 3, wherein lower ends of the first and second pads are chamfered at an angle of 45 degrees.
 6. The bag as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first and second pads are formed by obliquely cutting a single pad with a predetermined thickness.
 7. The bag as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first and second pads are formed by obliquely cutting a single pad with a predetermined thickness.
 8. The bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pair of support members are attached to both lateral sides of an upper portion of the back portion so that the support members can be connected to the seat portion when the back portion and the seat portion are unfolded from each other.
 9. A bag with a chair function, comprising: a storing portion for accommodating articles therein; a back portion integrally formed with the storing portion at one side of the storing portion; a seat portion which is configured to have a width corresponding to that of the back portion and is sized to extend upwardly from a lower end of the back portion by a predetermined length, and a lower end of which is connected to the lower end of the back portion in a pivotable manner; and fastening means attached along both lateral sides of the back portion and the seat portion.
 10. The bag as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fastening means are selected from a group consisting of a Velcro fastener, a slide fastener and a snap button.
 11. The bag as claimed in claim 9, wherein the back portion and the seat portion include a first and a second pads inserted thereinto, respectively.
 12. The bag as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first and second pads are formed of an elastic material selected from a group consisting of sponge, fiber, rubber and a composite thereof.
 13. The bag as claimed in claim 11, wherein lower ends of the first and second pads are chamfered at an angle of 45 degrees.
 14. The bag as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first and second pads are formed by obliquely cutting a single pad with a predetermined thickness.
 15. The bag as claimed in claim 9, wherein a pair of support members are attached to both lateral sides of an upper portion of the back portion so that the support members can be connected to the seat portion when the back portion and the seat portion are unfolded from each other. 